I often say “Business is just another path of Soul growth”. This is because, in my own journey to building 3 successful businesses and having a life I love to wake up to everyday, I have discovered it’s more about who you become in the process.
It’s about being who you need to BE. So you can do what you need to DO. And have what you want to HAVE.
More than anything, it’s a journey of self acceptance. Learning to love and accept who we are now while striving to become who we want to BE.
Want to have lots of money?
You have to BE willing to learn how to earn it, manage it, spend it. You have to look at your relationship with money and your beliefs about it. For e.g. if you have limiting beliefs about rich people, or that money corrupts, chances are you will never be rich. You may earn a lot of money, but you’ll never keep it.
Want to have a successful business?
You have to BE a leader, release the need to be everything to everyone, learn how to BE supported (you can’t do it alone). You have to learn to TRUST others to carry out the tasks you delegate. You have to BE willing to piss people off and not care what they think of you as you hold personal boundaries and play at bigger levels. You have to learn to trust yourself more than anyone else so you don’t second guess your decisions. You have to BE a decision maker.
Want to have a great love relationship?
You have to BE lovable. That is willing to receive love. You have to be willing to be open, vulnerable, connected. You have to be willing to communicate (even when you don’t feel like it). You have to be willing to feel uncomfortable and risk having your heart broken.
It’s all about growing yourself and that begins with looking at who you are BEING and being willing to change it if it is not aligned with what you want to create or experience. If it’s not driving behaviors and actions that are taking you where you want to go.
I know it’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s simple, but not necessarily easy. It requires commitment, consistent effort and a willingness to do things that are uncomfortable. More importantly, you have to be willing to FEEL the discomfort, disappointment and pain that are an inevitable part of the richness of an engaged, fulfilling life.
That why the old saying is so true:
“Successful people are willing to do things that most people aren’t willing to do”
I would add:
Successful people are willing to BE what most people aren’t willing to be”
Open. Vulnerable. Scared. Tenacious. Embarrassed. Bold. Outspoken. Fearless. Courageous. Authentic. Imperfect.
The funny thing is, we are all already all these things. Most of us are just busy hiding it. From ourselves and others. This makes us inauthentic and that is a problem if you want to be successful in business and life.
People connect with you when you are being your imperfect self – unapologetically.
I honestly think that’s why Donald Trump is doing so well in the Republican election campaign. He is unapologetically putting himself out there. He is unapologetic about who he is and saying exactly what he thinks – no matter how politically incorrect it might be! (I imagine his advisors cringe every time he got in front of the media initially :))
It takes courage to be yourself. To not allow your fear of being seen as “imperfect” or “wrong” by others to limit you or stop you. This is the key to true freedom. To staying in the flow and taking consistent action.
Many of us are busy hiding out. Getting ready to start. The inner perfectionist is hard at work – slowing you down, stressing you out or stopping you from taking action altogether.
Done is better than perfect.
I know how many times I have procrastinated on doing something because it wasn’t “quite right” yet. I would write, rewrite and edit a newsletter article ad nauseam. Newsflash! No matter what you put out in the world, there are people who will hate it and criticize it and there are people who will love it!
The first time I put out my newsletter and hit submit. I felt sick to my stomach.
The first time I put out a video. I felt sick to my stomach. (and that was after months of procrastination)
Every time before I got on stage to give a talk, the anxiety was overwhelming.
My newsletters aren’t perfect. My videos aren’t perfect. My presentations aren’t perfect.
I am not perfect.
But by being willing to be imperfect (i.e. who I am in this moment) I take action. I get better each time. I get feedback. I improve. I have experiences that I learn from. I gain confidence. I strengthen my muscles of courage. I get stronger, more experienced, more confident.
What it’s the thing that scares you most? Go do it! You may feel accomplished. Exhilarated. Sick. Regretful. Courageous. Strong. The important thing is you will learn something about yourself. You will have taken a step. Had an experience. Made a memory.
Imperfect action is better than inaction.
Inaction may keep you safe, but it won’t teach you anything. You won’t experience anything different. Chances are you won’t learn anything new.
What are you waiting for? Just do it!